Check out this author spotlight for crime and thriller writer Karen Crawford!
You can find all the links for where to find her furthest down the page, and don’t forget to check out her books!
1. Hi! Welcome to my humble blog of all things bookish! I would like for us to start by getting to know you. Give us a short bio, please!
Hi! Thank you so much for featuring me! I live in Arizona, USA. I have a fabulous husband named Jim, and two awesome kids who are grown ups – Danielle and Brady. I live with a cat and a dog, which we’ll get to in question two. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology, and a Master’s Degree in Justice Management. I worked in the criminal justice system for twenty years, primarily as a probation officer and probation supervisor, so I like to say that dark things live in my head.
2. To get to know you just a little bit better, I’d like to ask you some this or that questions. Choose and tell me why!
Cat or dog Both! I have a cat named Sancha. She is a sassy grey Tabby. Our dog is Bear. He is an Australian Cattle Dog (or Blue Heeler).
Morning or evening? Evening! I am barely coming to life by 10:00am.
Mountains or beaches? Both! I lived most of my life in the mountains, but I love to vacation at the ocean.
Plotter or pantser? Pantser! For the most part, I don’t write down a single thing. Only when I’m editing will I jot down a question or two to make sure I tied up a loose end.
Book or ebook? Book! But I do read ebooks too.
3. When you look for books to read, what trope or type of story will always catch your attention?
I love a good murder book! Give me all the serial killers and dark, twisted minds!
4. What do you write? Tell us about your current projects and the latest happenings!
Thank you for asking about my books! I have written two crime thrillers. In Underbelly, my main character, Taryn Winter, is a newly-retired detective from Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Her former partner and an FBI colleague rope her into consulting on a serial killer case. The trio continue the hunt in Atone, where they chase the killer through Nevada and Arizona. I am about halfway through the third book in this series, which is Call Box. Taryn will be asked to consult for another serial killer case in which victims are dropped off along California highways, and they use the iconic call boxes to seek help.
5. What is your most recent release? Give us a short presentation, cover, and a link for where to buy it!
I am close to publishing a stand-alone book called Housewife. In a nutshell, a wealthy New York City housewife meets a handsome stranger in a diner and goes home with him. She will abandon her family and become a high-ranking member of a drug cartel. But her decisions will not be made without life-changing consequences. All of my books are available on Amazon.com.
6. What real-life inspiration do you draw from, and what are your primary fictional sources of inspiration (books, authors, films, music, etc.)? Name a few!
Working in the criminal justice system exposed me to many crimes, circumstances and environments. In addition to that, I read, watch and listen to all the dark, twisted crime tales I can get my hands on. Too much is never enough!
7. What is your writing routine? If you have one, give us the run-down!
My writing routine changed drastically over 2020. I didn’t work on my books for almost six months while I bought and sold houses and moved to a new city. The chaos seemed to clutter my brain and send the creativity fleeing. As I’ve regained my footing, the stories are simmering again. Whew!
8. If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice as you started out on the path to become an author, what would it be?
I try to remember two things. First is write for myself. I cannot please everyone, and one-star reviews are inevitable. When I was a kid, I had a book called Please All, Please none. Pretty self-explanatory.
Second is don’t get caught up in all the writing advice and instruction. It’s useful information – until you question yourself at every turn and stall out because you become overwhelmed. Just write and figure out the rest later!
9. Last but not least: where can we find you? Drop those links!
You can find me at:
Instagram: @karencrawfordmysteries
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Karen-Crawford-742872099217068
There are are links on my website to purchase the books, but here are Underbelly and Atone:
Underbelly: https://www.amazon.com/Underbelly-Karen-Crawford-ebook/dp/B073MJ1JKK/
Atone: https://www.amazon.com/Atone-Vegas-Crime-Thriller-Book-ebook/dp/B07GR8F69C/
Great interview! I am a big fan of Karen’s writing. Her books all are fast moving and keep your attention. Accuracy is spot on. I’m never disappointed and always looking for more.
Oh, same here! I absolutely love them, and whole-heartedly recommend them to anyone who happens to like crime, mystery and thrillers! And she’s such a lovely person as well, good all around! 😀